This year’s program will include an exciting collection of technical papers covering a wide array of aviation-related topics grouped into the six technical tracks described below. ICNS receives abstracts from authors in many countries, representing government organizations, industry, and academia.
These are exciting times! We look forward to your participation and encourage your active engagement throughout the conference.
Technical Program Co-chairs
- Dr. Dongsong Zeng, The MITRE Corporation
- Dr. Rainer Kölle, EUROCONTROL
- Email: technical.chair@i-cns.org
Track 1. Traffic Management (ATM, UTM, STM)
Co-chairs
Bernd Korn, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Carmo Kluenker, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
In this track, sessions will address developments in the areas of UAS Traffic Integration, Separation Management and Collision Avoidance, ATM Concepts, Terminal Operations and Advanced Air Mobility / Urban Air Mobility.
Track 2. Operational Efficiency
Co-chairs
Billy Josefsson, Air Navigation Services of Sweden
Max Li, University of Michigan
In this track, sessions will address methods for Efficiency, Data Driven Concepts, OPS Plan and Separation. Topics include Autonomous Forecast Trend Monitoring, GIS-enabled Applications, Conflict resolution using Multi-objective Collaborative Trajectory Deconfliction.
Track 3. Digital Engineering and Artificial Intelligence
Co-chairs
Rafael Apaza, NASA
Fred Wieland, Mosaic ATM
This track will cover advancements in Digital Engineering, Model Based System Engineering (MBSE), Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks, Large Language Models, and Machine Learning to improve the safety, security, and efficiency of ATM/CNS operations.
Track 4. Communications and Cybersecurity
Co-chairs
Greg Saconne, Boeing
Jonathan Graefe, Collins Aerospace
In this track, sessions will address developments in the areas of Cybersecurity Modelling and Architecture, Communications Performance, Future Communications, and Communication System Implementation Considerations.
Track 5. CNS, APNT, and UAS
Co-chairs
William Symionow, MITRE
Erik Theunissen, Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA)
In this track, sessions will focus on progressions in Communications Navigation and Surveillance (CNS), GNSS disruption, Alternative Position-Navigation-Timing (APNT), and the integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS).
Track 6. Special Topics
Co-chairs
Kelly Curran, U.S. Department of Transportation
Paul Diffenderfer, MITRE
The sessions in this track will focus on the developments of the NAS through the use of cutting-edge solutions in Advanced Air Mobility, Safety Management System, Collision Risk Modelling, Synthetic Flight Tracks, and Digital Towers.
Technical Program Chair Biographies
Dr. Dongsong Zeng, The MITRE Corporation
Dr. Dongsong Zeng is a principal communications engineer at The MITRE Corporation. His area of expertise encompasses communications, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management. Currently he is responsible for systems engineering and technology standardization in support of the FAA NextGen and Data Communications programs.
Dr. Zeng boasts a wealth of expertise in systems engineering, leadership and project management, accrued over the past two decades, with a multitude of projects for national airspace operation, air traffic management, government and commercial data networks, satellites systems, Alternative Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT), digital engineering/digital twin, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Prior to his appointment at MITRE, Dr. Zeng worked for Honeywell, where his responsibilities included heading up VHF aeronautical communications, sensor networks, satellite communications, and air traffic control (ATC) systems.
Dongsong Zeng received his doctorate in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech. Dr. Zeng stands proudly as the secretary of RTCA Special Committee 223 “AeroMACS and IPS Standards” and RTCA Special Committee 214 VDL SubGroup “VDL Mode 2 Standards,” and has been awarded for his significant contribution and outstanding leadership to the development of aeronautical standards by the RTCA, Inc. for multiple years. His dedication to the progress and advancement of this field makes him a distinguished professional.
Dr. Rainer Kölle, EUROCONTROL
Rainer Kölle heads the Operational Performance Review Service with EUROCONTROL, Directorate European Green Sky, Aviation Intelligence Unit, Brussels. Prior to joining EUROCONTROL in 2005, he served as a career officer in the German Air Force with 18 years of service experience. His professional career saw him working as aviator, air traffic controller, and in the wider field of air traffic management.
Rainer represents EUROCONTROL in standardization activities and performance related R&D projects and policy working groups (e.g., ICAO’s performance expert group, multi-national performance benchmarking group). His research interests apply data science to operational air transport and air navigation performance and promoting higher levels of transparency using open data for operational performance measurement.
Rainer holds a Master of Science in electrical engineering (communication systems) from the University of the German Federal Armed Forces, Hamburg, 1994, and a doctorate from Lancaster University, United Kingdom, 2013.
